Expression-controlling mechanism for pneumatically-operated musical instruments



April 17, 1928. 1,666,602

. H. J. LA JOIE ET AL EXPRESSION CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l fa /awn!" i Jazz-g I ('4 4'0 '17 I M N r W WQW April-l7, 1928. 1,666,602

NG MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATICALLY H. J. LA JOIE ET AL EXPRESSION CONTROLLI OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 22. 1922 Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,666,602 PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT J. LA JOIE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND UBERT URQUHART AND FRANK POKORNY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO AUTO PNEUMATIC ACTION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF YORK.

EXPRESSION-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATICALLY-OPERATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed September 22, 1922.

The object of our present invention is particularly to improve and add to the expression controlling mechanism shown, described and claimed in an application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed by us October 31, 1921, Serial No. 511,711, forming Letters Patent #1,603,342, dated October 19, 1926. In said application for patent a mechanism consistingof the development of the invention shown in patent to \Velte, No. 1,225,902 dated May 15, 1917, is illustrated and which. mechanism comprises a VHlXe unit applied to co-operate with one part of a divided action for an automatic musical instrument and another valve unit applied to co-operate with the other section thereof. Each unit has an automatic governor which can be set to work to utilize different degrees of tension by an expression pneumatic controlled automatically from the tracker bar. This adjustment '18 obtained by ar ranging an expression valve to co-operate with the governing valve, which expression valve is moved to different positions for different degrees of playing and is moved slowly away from the governing valve for a crescendo effect and slowly towards the governing valve for a diminuendo effect. It has been found desirable to adjust the rate of movement of the expression-pneumatics so that the length of time of the diminuendo 0r crescendo effects can be adjusted. It is not very easy to adjust the valve mechanisms and bleeds to obtain this adjustment so we have obtained this effect by providing supplemental springs, the pressure of which can be applied preferably 'conjointly to the expression pneumatics so that the rate of movement thereof can be adjusted.

The invention is illustrated in the accour panying two sheets of drawings, referring to which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the principal part of said mechanism with our improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan through the valve box, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail on an enlarged scale of one of the springs employed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 55 of Fig. l; and

Serial No. 589,871.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the locking mech anism.

It is not believed necessary in this application to describe in detail all the various parts of the valve units as such parts and the op eration thereof can be readily understood by reference to our prior application. The expression valve of each unit is operated by an expression pneumatic. The expression controlling pneumatic 49 for the right hand unit has an arm 10 secured thereto connected to which is a link 11 having an eye 12 encircling a rod 13 fitted to slide horizontally in suitable brackets or blocks on the spool box board or bottom. A spring 14 is fitted on carrying pieces or bushings 1515 fitted on said rod 13. A collar 16 is adjustably secured to the rod 13 near its right hand end. Felt washers 17-17 are arranged between the eye 12 and the left hand bushing 15 and between the right hand bushing 15 and the collar 16 to prevent any clicking of the mechanism. It will be seen that this spring is thus arranged to oppose the collapsing movement of the expression controlling pneumatic 49.

An arm 18 is secured to the left hand expression controlling pneumatic 49. This arm has a piece of felt 19 set in position to engage a roller 20 on the end of a. lever 21 pivoted to the left hand valve unit. A link 22 is connected to the lower end of the lever 21 and has an eye 23 fitting on the rod 13. Another spring 14 is arranged on bearing pieces or bushings 1515 on the rod 13, at the right of theeye 23 of the link 22 and another collar 16 is secured on the rod 13, pieces of felt 17-17 being arranged on said rod 13 between the eye 23 and the left hand bushing 15 and the collar 16 and the right hand bushing 15. It will be seen that this left hand spring 14 is connected. to oppose the collapsing movement of the left hand expression pneumatic. It is preferable to ap ply the action of these springs conjointly to By this arrangement the tension 01 the springs 14l-1-l will be applied to oppose the collapsing movement of the expression pneumatics and the application will be made conjointly or evenly degree to both expression pneumatics. By this adj ustn-ient the action of both expression 'meumatics is kept substantially the same, no matter what adjustment is made.

"The details and arrangements herein own and described may be greatly varied by a skilled mechanic without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. r.

Having thus described our invention what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:-

1. In a musical instrument, a divided action, a mechanism having an. expression pneumatic for controlling the tension in one part of the action, a spring, the tension 01": which can be applied to said pneumatic, another mechanism having an expression pneumatic for controlling the tension in the other part of the action, a spring, the tension of which can be applied to this pneumatic, and means for simultaneously adjusting the action oil the springs so that the tensions thereof will be applied with the same "difi'ering degrees to the pneumatics.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination of two expression controlling pneumatics, a spring for each pneumatic, and means for simultaneouslyadjusting the application of the tension of the springs to the pneumatics so that the tensions thereof will be applied with the'same differing degrees to the pneumatics.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination of an expression controlling pneumatic, a lever connected thereto, a link extending therefrom and fitting on a rod and arranged.

and accurately to a similar essees to oppose the collapsing movement of the pneumatic, a spring carried on said. rod, a second expression controlling pneumatic, a lever carried by the pneumatic engaging a second lever, a link extending from the second lever and having an eye fitted on said rod, a spring on the rod for this second link and arranged to oppose the collapsing movement of the second pneumatic, and means for adjusting and clamping the rod in difierent positions, whereby the tension of the springs as applied to the pneumatics can be adjusted to the same degree.

l. In a musical instrument, the combination with a pneumatic, a lever extending therefrom, a slid-able rod, a link extending from the lever having an eye fitted on said rod, a spring mounted on said rod in position to be engaged by saic eye, a second pneumatic, an arm carried thereby, a pivoted lever which can be engaged by said arm, a link attached to said lever and having an eye surrounding said rod, a second spring mounted on said rod, and means for adjusting and clamping the rod in different positions so that the tensions of the springs an be adjustably applied to the pneumatics to substantially the same degree.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination with a pneumatic, a lever extending therefrom, a slidable rod, a link extending from the lever having an eye fitted on said rod, a spring mounted on said rod in position to be engaged by said eye, a second pneumatic, an arm carried thereby, a pivoted lever which can be engaged by said. arn'i, a link at tached to said lever and having an eye surrounding said rod, a second spring mounted on said rod, means for adjusting and clamping the rod in different positions so that the tension of the springs will be adjustably applied to the pneumatics to substantially the same degree, said means consisting of an arm and a notched plate with which a projection on the arm can engage.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

HUBERT J. LA JOIE. unnsr URQUHART. FRANK POKORNY. 

